An Embedded Model Estimator for Non-Stationary Random Functions Using Multiple Secondary Variables

An algorithm for non-stationary spatial modelling using multiple secondary variables is developed herein, which combines geostatistics with quantile random forests to provide a new interpolation and stochastic simulation. This paper introduces the method and shows that its results are consistent and similar in nature to those applying to geostatistical modelling and to quantile random forests. The method allows for embedding of simpler interpolation techniques, such as kriging, to further condition the model. The algorithm works by estimating a conditional distribution for the target variable at each target location. The family of such distributions is called the envelope of the target variable. From this, it is possible to obtain spatial estimates, quantiles and uncertainty. An algorithm is also developed to produce conditional simulations from the envelope. As they sample from the envelope, realizations are therefore locally influenced by relative changes of importance of secondary variables, trends and variability.

GSTools v1.3: A toolbox for geostatistical modelling in Python

Geostatistics as a subfield of statistics accounts for the spatial correlations encountered in many applications of e.g. Earth Sciences. Valuable information can be extracted from these correlations, also helping to address the often encountered burden of data scarcity. Despite the value of additional data, the use of geostatistics still falls short of its potential. This problem is often connected to the lack of user-friendly software hampering the use and application of geostatistics. We therefore present GSTools, a Python-based software suite for solving a wide range of geostatistical problems. We chose Python due to its unique balance between usability, flexibility, and efficiency and due to its adoption in the scientific community. GSTools provides methods for generating random fields, it can perform kriging and variogram estimation and much more. We demonstrate its abilities by virtue of a series of example application detailing their use.